Thursday, July 4, 2013

Parliament takes over KICC, surrounding offices

Thursday, July 4, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY FRANCIS MUREITHI
PARLIAMENT has taken over 17 floors of the iconic Kenyatta International Conference Center as it continues to acquire more buildings around Parliamentary Square.
The acquisition of the top floors of the 28-storey KICC leaves only the amphitheatre and the conference hall available for use by the public.
The rest of the building and the other floors are already being used by the Senate.
Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi yesterday announced the takeover to MPs.
Parliament has also acquired the entire high-rise Harambee Plaza on Haile Selassie Avenue where MPs will have their offices. Each MP will have an office with a manned reception and waiting area.
The Speaker has said that the offices both at KICC and Harambee Plaza will be allocated to MPs today by ballot.
He said the negotiations between the Parliamentary Service Commission and the executive concluded the agreement over KICC.
Parliament initially wanted the entire KICC but the idea was shot down by the executive.
The MPs also want Sheria House, now the Attorney General’s office, as they wait for the construction of their 26 storey office block, next to County Hall.
Yesterday, the Speaker directed that all Parliament staff housed at Harambee Plaza to be relocated to clear the premises for MPs.
The Senate has been meeting at the KICC and has offices there for most staff, the Speaker and some senior senators. Senators will now all be allocated offices there.
Sh199 million has been budgeted by Parliament to meet expenses related to leasing of office space at KICC and Harambee Plaza. A further Sh35 million has been allocated to buy office furniture and equipment for the MPs this year.
KICC is owned by the government while Harambee Plaza is owned by the giant Harambee Sacco though Parliament is in the process of purchasing it.
Parliament's expansion spree is costing taxpayers billions of shillings.
The PSC has repeatedly stated that it needs more buildings to accommodate its 418 members. The number of MPs increased from 222 to 349 under the new constitution which also created a Senate with 67 Senators and a Speaker.
Parliament has already acquired most of the buildings adjacent to Parliament in a bid to develop 'Parliament’s Square.'
The square will run from City Hall Way next to the Intercontinental Hotel, through to the current Parliament, with Parliament Road, Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue acting as the borders.
Last week the PSC chaired by the Speaker resolved to build a wall around the entire square.
Buildings already purchased include the 11 storey Protection House, 10-storey Ukulima Co-operative Building, the headquarters of St Johns Ambulance as well as Imani House formerly owned by the Anglican Church.
The acquisition has been going on for the last three years with PSC setting aside money in each financial year.
In FY 2012/13, Sh1.2 billion was allocated to finalise purchase of Protection House. The cash was directly transferred to the Ministry of Housing. Another Sh700 million was spent for the purchase of the other buildings within Parliament Square. Notices to vacate the purchased buildings have been issued.
Parliament has also acquired vacant land within the square where a Sh5 billion office block will be built over the next three years.
The 26-storey block will stand on the plot between Continental House and County Hall. PSC has said the new building will provide additional committee rooms and other facilities for MPs and senators. Already, Sh1.4 billion has been set aside for the construction in FY 2013/14.
The conversion of the Old Chambers to Senate Chambers at Parliament grounds is ongoing with Sh700 million budgeted for the current financial year.
Also under construction is a restaurant and an underground car park for 250 vehicles. The PSC is also remodeling County Hall to provide a modern meeting room for MPs, offices for the senior staff, and key political leaders.
This year Parliament will also spend Sh150 million on the development of the Karen-based Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training with a further Sh100 million allocated to buy land for the expansion of the centre.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126824/parliament-takes-over-kicc-surrounding-offices#sthash.RGLyLRkh.dpuf

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